a_j19's reviews
84 reviews
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
She never fucking dies. I thought that the “7 or 8 deaths” thing would be important but honestly it’s just a big red herring.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Am I supposed to feel bad for her? Cause I really don’t.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I liked it overall, but some of the stories didn’t hit the way they could.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I mean it’s sweet it’s just so millennial.
Lady Tan's Circle Of Women by Lisa See
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really loved this book. It was so interesting to see all the different relations in just one house.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a little bit to get into but the whole setting gave me chills. It was so similar to our world, but different enough to make it incredibly creepy.
This Fleeting World: A Short History of Humanity Teacher/Student Edition by David Christian
informative
fast-paced
3.0
It was pretty interesting but didn’t go into much detail.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, only because I listened to the audiobook. It was so much easier to understand. It was super interesting to see the same events repeat throughout each generation. I did find the portrayal of women pretty problematic. They were always quiet, submissive, way too young for their husbands and sometimes related to them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, War, Death, Murder, and Violence
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Honestly, I loved this book so much. The friendships felt so genuine and realistic. It really explores misogyny, Korean beauty standards, sex work, and female relationships so well.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Truly amazing! I honestly loved it. The book perfectly combined historical elements and sci-fi. Many of the friendships felt really shallow, but that may just be because of how short the book was.